Graduation Award (Hansard, 2 July 2001)

§ Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultation has taken place with teachers on the introduction of the new over-arching graduation award for 19-year-olds.[1621]

§ Mr. Timms
The Government asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in December 1999 to consult on the "graduation certificate" proposal which was set out in the Social Exclusion Unit's report "Bridging the Gap: New Opportunities for 16–18 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training". The idea behind the certificate was to encourage all young people to stay in learning until 19.
The extensive consultation during 1999 and early 2000 covered a range of interested parties including teachers. We will consider what further consultation will be needed in taking forward the most recent proposal by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
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§ Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions were held with the Learning and Skills Council on the introduction of the new graduation award for 19-year-olds. [1625]

§ Mr. Timms
The Further Education Funding Council was involved in exploring the proposal for a graduation certificate included in the Social Exclusion Unit's report "Bridging the Gap: New Opportunities for 16–18 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training". The Learning and Skills Council have an on-going role in the current work being done by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on that proposal, and they will be involved in the development of any new award.

§ Mrs. May
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the new graduation award for 19-year-olds will be available to those studying at the further education colleges post-16; and if further education colleges will be expected to hold graduation ceremonies. [1628]

§ Mr. Timms
The award would be for all young people to attain by 19 years of age, and would be available to young people learning in a variety of settings including further education colleges. We will need to consider what the appropriate form and content of any ceremonies to recognise and celebrate young people's achievement of the award should be.